Active clinical trials for "Prostatic Neoplasms"

The purpose of this trial is to give a shorter course (5 ½-6 weeks) of proton radiation that has as little side effects on normal bladder and rectal tissues as the usual longer course (8 weeks) of proton radiation, without decreasing the chance of killing prostate cancer cells.

This is a single-center, open-label, non-randomized Phase I study of weekly Cabazitaxel with concurrent intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) (A type of 3-dimensional radiation therapy that uses computer-generated images to show the size and shape of the tumor. Thin beams of radiation of different intensities are aimed at the tumor from many angles.) and androgen deprivation therapy (Treatment to suppress or block the production or action of male hormones) in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer. It is hoped that by adding Cabazitaxel to the standard IMRT, greater local disease control can be achieved and eventually the cure rate can be increased. After this study, the maximally tolerated dose of Cabazitaxel that could be used in combination with radiation can be found. Men with locally advanced high risk prostate cancer represent a group of patients for whom cure is potentially achievable utilizing a multimodality approach. More aggressive treatment upfront with chemotherapy and ADT may improve the long term disease control. We hypothesize that Cabazitaxel may be added to radiation therapy safely, and we anticipate that this novel approach will improve disease control and eventually improve survival for locally advanced prostate cancer patients.

The goal of this clinical research study is to learn about the effect of different combinations of exercise, supportive counseling, and methylphenidate/placebo for the treatment of fatigue in patients with prostate cancer. The safety of this treatment combination will also be studied. Methylphenidate is a stimulant designed to increase the activity of the central nervous system. A placebo is not a drug. It looks like the study drug but is not designed to treat any symptom, disease or illness. It is designed to be compared with a study drug to learn if the study drug has any real effect. The exercise in this study is designed to help improve your physical fitness and energy levels. Supportive counseling is designed to help to control symptoms, fatigue, anxiety, depression, pain, and/or sleep disorders.

RATIONALE: Androgens can cause the growth of prostate cancer cells. Drugs, such as steroid 17alpha-monooxygenase TAK-700, when used with other hormone therapy, may lessen the amount of androgens made by the body. Radiation therapy uses high energy x rays to kill tumor cells. This may be an effective treatment for prostate cancer when combined with hormone therapy. Studying quality-of-life in patients having cancer treatment may help identify the intermediate- and long-term effects of treatment on patients with prostate cancer. PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying the use of hormone therapy, including TAK-700, together with radiation therapy in treating patients with prostate cancer.

Degarelix is an approved drug that is used to treat prostate cancer by lowering testosterone levels in the body. Degarelix is commonly given with radiation for prostate cancer, but less frequently with surgery since there has been no proven benefit with this approach. The investigators do not expect the patient to benefit directly from treatment with degarelix since their prostate will be removed shortly after the drug is given. Instead, the investigators hope to learn about how degarelix and other treatment that lowers your testosterone effects prostate cancer cells and use this information to develop better treatments in the future.

RATIONALE: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays and other types of radiation to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors. Androgens can cause the growth of prostate cancer cells. Androgen-deprivation therapy may lessen the amount of androgens made by the body. It is not yet known whether radiation therapy is more effective with or without androgen-deprivation therapy in treating patients with prostate cancer. PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying radiation therapy to see how well it works compared with radiation therapy given together with androgen-deprivation therapy in treating patients with prostate cancer.

RATIONALE: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Androgens can cause the growth of prostate cancer cells. Antihormone therapy, such as flutamide, bicalutamide, and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist, may lessen the amount of androgens made by the body. It is not yet known which regimen of radiation therapy with or without androgen-deprivation therapy is more effective for prostate cancer. PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying prostate radiation therapy to see how well it works compared with short-term androgen deprivation therapy given together with pelvic lymph node radiation therapy with or without prostate radiation therapy in treating patients with a rising PSA after surgery for prostate cancer.

This will be a Phase II study evaluating the effectiveness and toxicity of a specific radiation therapy regimen. This choice of daily dose is based on the prior published experience showing safety and efficacy of hypofractionated regimens. The total dose is calculated to be effective for late effects which has been shown to be effective and safe in a large prospective Phase II study. If the hypothesis for the prostate is is true, then this regimen should be at least as effective or more effective for tumor control than the current conventional therapy.

Radical prostatectomy (RP) is the most common curative approach offered to men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer. Unfortunately, up to half of these patients will have factors placing them at high risk of their cancer recurring. Having radiotherapy after RP is known to improve cure rates, but what is not known is whether it should be given straight after the operation or only when there is a rising PSA after surgery indicating active cancer. Immediate RT may not benefit all men, and can cause serious side effects such as bladder and bowel problems and impotence. International lack of consensus on the optimal timing of RT has resulted in varied clinical practice. This phase 3 trial will compare the two approaches.

This purpose of this study is designed to compare two types of images; magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and Trans-Rectal Ultrasound (TRUS) to see which one performs more accurately for the image-guided insertion of Fiducial Markers(FMs) within the tumour. Though effective for guiding FM placement at the poles of the prostate gland due to excellent visualization of the prostatic boundaries, TRUS may not be ideally suited for marking the GTV. Conventional TRUS is neither sufficiently sensitive nor specific for accurate visualization of intra-prostatic tumor. A new interventional MRI technique enables needle guidance to the gross tumour Volume (GTV) for FM placement. It is of particular importance that both techniques be evaluated to enable which one is more effective so that it can be implemented in the designs of future trials involving dose-escalation to prostate.